A LIGHT LUNCH LOVE AND LAUGH BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Well as Hub left the house this morning at half seven. There were bells at my bedroom door. Oh. I guessed it was doggy day care for Mummy Fifi? Tomorrow LF has a big train journey to do so I’m presuming today is Little Fella’s day off work?

 

After putting the bedroom rug from the guest room to our lounge over the weekend, I told myself it was time to get up, with the knowledge that our silly living room door won’t keep closed. We are in desperate need for new doors to our lounge. These have been in since the house was built, and they don’t only look shabby, and I’m not talking shabby chic, but old. A lick of paint won’t make a difference. The handles are awful. They are meant to be brass but the black is showing through. So, some brass cleaner? Well perhaps, but they are not real brass. And, they don’t keep closed. Also the double door going through the lounge has a catch on it that Hub and I keep catching as we go through. It bends like Beckham. So, we could get a joiner out to fix it? OK, put all that together how much will that cost? Loads and I can’t be dealing with all those different workmen not only that, we will have to buy all the stuff. Unless we want to pay even more. And the doors are hideous. Real seventies, though the house was built in the 90’s… Not sure how that happened? But time has come when we really need to do something. The other door if you don’t click it when closing, glides open, not sure if the house is on a tilt or tilting or just a dodgy door. My friend from the US didn’t know what dodgy meant. Haha. Well, duff? Broken? Not good in other words.

 

So my rug so far so good, he was in the living room but played with toys, rather than munching his way through my rug.

 

As I sit here in my lovely lounge, my dogs are killing each other. What with their bells on their collars and the growling from LF as muffled sounds come from little Waggs, I’m thinking a head is in the lion’s mouth? Hang on a sec, I must intervene.

 

Okay so they are sorted for the next 34 seconds. LF likes to play a game where by he traps the Wagging one in the hall/porch and then she has to try to get out, past him. It’s so funny but again I have to after a while encourage Waggatail to come through or she would be in their forever. Waiting, wondering, wagging.

 

Okay, now are you ready for the funny story? All I can say is thank goodness for Tap Tap See on my IPhone.

“Why is that Fiona?”” I hear you say.

 

So this morning I made a lovely few, yep. Sandwiches for breakfast, I know, it’s odd. I won’t tell you what I had in them, or will I? Guess I have to because it’s part of the story. Well, a cheese slice cucumber and spring onions. Yep, breakfast… Keep up… I’m gross when it comes to conventional eating.

 

Piled nice and high, my supper, from last night, breakfast and lunch.  I made a cup of tea in our hot water machine, oh Bloggets it’s the best thing I have ever bought for my kitchen. Those of us who can’t see. It’s worth every penny. Or whatever your denomination is.

 

Only thing about having a water machine, I’m drinking loads more tea. About six cups per day. I only have coffee about twice a week though. And I am English, so we are born drinking tea, right?  

 

Carrying my plate and cup through to our huge conservatory because that is where our dining table is, because our kitchen is just let’s say, an odd shape. Very long but very narrow. And I’m not talking galley.

 

I placed with care my food and drink on our glass table. As I sat down, something was next to my foot. Ug?

 

As I slid my foot to the right across the tiled floor, pushing the object hoping to learn what it was by doing so, it was warm.

Fresh.

Oh my God. What was it? So Bloggets, do I

1, continue eating and drinking, just in a fast motion?

2, Get the heckers out of there and eat food at the breakfast bar? Or 3, bend down and feel what the object is?

 

I opted for the first choice but with a twist. The twist coming up. So, eating fast, putting my hand down on my plate to learn I ate so fast the sandwiches were gone… oh this object, was bugging e. It was longish, had the dogs brought something dead in from the garden? Had our dogs left us a gift of what they should have done in the garden? Or something else…

 

Whatever it was, it wasn’t moving, but I could not get it out of my head what the heck it was? Definitely warm and fresh. Hub let the beasties out this morning so with him being in a hurry for work, as the taxi picked him up today, he wouldn’t have noticed what they had brought in… That was my thought. Second thought, open my IPhone and open the app Tap Tap See.

 

Take a picture of the floor. Well, the first one told me out loud that it was a brown empty chair, now normally this would be good for getting on busses, but it takes ages for the picture to come through, about twenty seconds sometimes.

 

I always take two pictures. So I did from a slightly different angle and the second one came up as grey tiled floor. Well, apart from they are meant to be taupe?

 From yet another angle. This time it read sliced cucumber on a tiled floor. OK I spilled some cucumber out from my sandwich. Not sure how? Then I dared to go to the hot fresh beast on my floor and get up close and personal.

 

Then the real answer came over my phone in speech that was so helpful. So when I heard, what did I do? 1, run like heck? 2, grab loads of paper with a rubber glove and disinfectant? Or three, the third option… Yep, that’s what I will do, answer number three.

 

What was it then? The voice on my phone read.

“Tiled floor with slices of cucumber next to some bread!!!!”

Hahahahaha I hadn’t eaten the food that fast, I’d blooming dropped one of my sandwiches, so what did I do, option three, that’s right.

Called in my dogs. Well, you should have heard the noise of their legs trying to run on a slippy wooden floor from their room to mine, to get to the food?

 

I guess a mopping job for me now though, but no rubber gloves needed. Took me in total to learn what it was about ninety seconds, Tap Tap See is a life line for us. Last night trying to see what colour Hubs shirts were as well, I used it. Whoever invented it, thank you but moreover, thank you that it is free, as most things to do with our blindness is chargeable and charge the earth just to rub in we can’t see, so hey, let’s fleece them too. Well Not T T S. It’s totally free in the UK and a great product. Only thing is, they give you the option to contact them and I wanted to, to say thanks but that side of it isn’t accessible, not that I have found anyway.

 

Teen arrived yesterday, saw his tower, well, not his, but you know what I mean? And today he is at the pleasure beach. He is driving home tonight. I hope will be safe. He is a kid driving like an adult. Only been driving a year and a half, it’s scary the distance he travels.

 

Talking of scary and driving, it is blooming scary to know who is driving on our roads, seriously, some of the delivery people who come here? Oh my? How?

 

Yesterday’s gent. Knocking on the door like the hit squad about to smash down the door, for some reason they do not like to use our door bell. Last one who came, Hub asked him why he didn’t use the bell? Man answered. “Sometimes they don’t work!”

Well, try it and if you don’t hear it then knock? No, it’s more fun to frighten the life out of us by bang banging on the door.

 

Well, the man yesterday. I opened the door. He asked me if I was who I said I was? I said yes. He asked in a rather odd voice. Are you sure? Well, hang on a cotton picking second and I will go and get my passport, just to check and prove to you I am who I am, the person who bought the item you are trying no, sorry, paid to deliver to me?

 

Well, I just answered yes. He then put the parcel into my hands. Great, result, normally they wave it around like a lunatic or put it on the door step though my arms are open for whatever…. That sounds so wrong? My arms open for whatever? Haha. Shall I delete and change? Naha.

 

He put the parcel in my arms and asked me if I had it? No, I don’t though you have now left go so it must be magic, as it’s still in the air? Of course I have it…. Then he asked again if I was sure I had it. And again asking if I was really the person who was meant to be getting the parcel? No, it’s not really me.. So what was it?

 

 Obviously the queen jewels? No, disposable rubber gloves for cleaning the dog run. Hahhahahah. Oh my life?

 

More later with love and a laugh.

DIARY OF SMILES BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Dinner has been served and eaten. Hub is in the bath, dogs are sleeping, in the same bed, though they have one each and Teen is miles away from home.

 

He set off at half five it’s almost eight in the evening and he still isn’t there. He had to pick up Shamrock from work first and at that time, I guess it’s bad traffic. He is staying overnight. He got up today at half five in the morning to start work at half six. Came in from work at four and said he was going to the gym. Only for half an hour. I stupidly suggested that he should rest for half an hour instead? No, he went to the gym.

Came home ate dinner and showered packed and said goodbye to Hub just as he was coming in from work.

 

He is home late tomorrow night then he is working seven days in a row, four days starting at half six, so a very tired Son we are going to see soon.

 

Thank you for all the lovely caring comments you have sent me with regards to the blog I wrote earlier. Here is a follow up.

 

It’s morning, the birds are chirping the fragrance of blooms are seeping through your window as is the sun. The heat from the orange ball in the sky is like a yolky egg at the breakfast table.

 

As you let the shower head cascade over your body, the smell of lemon from the bottle on the side of your shower gives you that lift, that boost.

 

As you dry yourself on fluffy fresh towels, the idea that your love is making you a pot of coffee fills you with joy.

 

The knowledge that your day is going to be perfect excites you.

 

Then you wake up. Your dream is over and reality is standing next to you with a cold cup of tea, burnt toast and pointing to the dial on the wall to turn up your heating. Haha.

 

You want the world to stop so that you can jump off. There is an alternative. You can fall down, but look up. You can shut down or wake up. So let me try to lift you and love you?

 

1.       text some friends and ask them what is the funniest thing they have heard that week?

2.       Create a space with a different feel. So move some furniture?

3.       Take time out to enjoy your favourite coffee or cup of tea with your guilty pleasure. In my case a big bar of thick chocolate. I haven’t had one of those forever, but I have a secret stash in my secret place, smile…

4.       Blast your favourite music and dance around with no regard for rhythm or appearance

5.       Make a list of things that you accomplished this year then bask in the glory, or at least the knowledge that you have helped someone.

6.       Committing act of random kindness and ask them to pass it on

7.       Remember the world is vast, so much bigger than the tiny space that seams to be closing in on you

8.        Pop some bubble wrap. Haha, go on, who doesn’t love to do this?

9.       Open a new bar of soap. Hmm. I can smell lavender now, there is something about soap that makes me smile. Also, a brand new book, even those advertising booklets that come through the door. Yep, I’m officially weird. And finally, you my dear Bloggets. By reading this far you have put a smile on my face. XXXX

MEMOIRS OF VISIONS BY FIONA CUMMINGS

As I sat on my bed this morning, with the same view of my useless vision, stretching out my fingers in hope that somehow a miracle had taken place and I would see even a flicker of my white skin against a dark background. Then again, dread filled my heart as another day I would see the same thing in front of me. You would think I would get used to it now, wouldn’t you? Sadly no. In the pit of my stomach I still feel grief. Grief for what I have lost and may never get back. The lump in my throat more prominent today. It hurt right up to my ears. Why do my eyes even bother to open? Hmm. I am grateful that they do, but if they didn’t, then surely it would be easier to know why they didn’t see?

 

As I turned to my left, avoiding the window, not wanting to have the light that isn’t there for me snatched away again in a force of fearful feelings, I simply avoided anything that should be bright!

 

As I went into my bathroom, a mirror is in front of me. Just so happens that it’s the door of the cupboard for the cosmetics above the sink! Still I chance a glance in hope that perhaps my eyes just had no time to adjust? Putting on the light, that’s it, that is what I need to do. The light will clarify that yes, the sleep I had during the night and the fact that a power un be known to earth had worked on my vision during my slumber, would all be shown in the mirror, only first I had to light the room up.

 

I pondered for a while. Placing my fingers to my lips, to hush them. To prevent them from screaming. I then traced my face to my eyes and provided a shelf to catch any tears which may have escaped.

 

My heart today would burst. I was suffering. Today more than most days. Normally my ache lasted only until I stood up from my bed. Today it followed me. Chasing me biting me. Poking at me. Almost in a stabbing motion.

“You can’t see, stupid. You’re blind and will never see, not ever, so give up.””

 

Words haunted me from years ago. “Darkness will prevail.””

 

To go through life each day to struggle in the way I do, to be proud at small achievements, tiny footsteps to others, huge leaps to me. To fall. To be trod on. Only to have once again to find the strength to get back up again.

 

I just want to look at my Son. To hold his beautiful face in my hands and kiss his cheek. Tell him how much I love him but to give him eye contact in the way I did as he was a baby in my arms.

 

I want to see the colour red again. What colour is my hair now? I’m told blonde, but that is a name for many shades. How old do I look? I’m told a lot younger than I am but are people just being kind? I want to see for myself.

 

Yes, I can do things some better than sighted people, but it’s so much more difficult, physically and emotionally. I ask myself how long before a medical breakthrough will come to people like me as well as myself?

 

To be honest, I have stopped looking now at the so called medical miracles, because the headlines get your hopes built up and pull you into the story only to throw you from a high tower, tossing you through the air tearing your skin, shredding your clothes.

 

Is this dirty paper ever going to be lifted from my eyes and allow the world to be let in? Allow me to see  smile and feel as if I am really laughing. Do I have a future of vision? Or,

is this my destiny?

A DIARY OF LULLABIES BY FIONA CUMMINGS

A very gentle blog I hope, with a subject that is close to my heart, but first,

we were and are, joined by so many countries today. This morning we had views from Mexico Ukraine, Canada, Spain and South Africa, but tonight hello to Philippines, Sweden, Morocco, Belgium, Poland, Australia, US, Turkey, UK, and Germany, again each time I check the stats it’s the top ten countries who have had the most views who are on my stats. For all of those countries who are just out of the top ten, I hope you will be viewable, or in my case, audible tomorrow.

 

So the subject of this blog? Something I have been asked about this weekend by a lady, and I read an old school pals words that he couldn’t sleep, so this is what is said to have a good night sleep. I have written many times before about the subject on how to get the best sleep, and some things I wrote about I use and have used since doing so, my sleeping has become a little better. At least now once I get to sleep, the sleep is quite deep. Only thing is, it’s not for longer than may be a couple of hours.

 

So, I thought I would read a bit on the subject and let you know what is going around other than my suggestions of wonderful lavender pillow spray and positive thoughts as well as comfortable bedding/pillows and no technology before bed. Gosh, something I just can’t give up but it’s scientifically proven that tech tangles with your sleep, it inhibits the production of melatonin which induces sleep, so other than the latter, I can do the rest.

 

What else is suggested? The environment of your bedroom. So do you have clutter around the floor of your place of slumber? Even if you can’t see, you feel the closing in of the junk, so try to tidy it away? Then the lighting, if you can see, then the lighting is important. You don’t want brash bulbs, try to go more for subtle glows, rather than dancing disco lighting. Your lamp shades will be important too, depressing black shades in your bedroom won’t be very comforting. Try more pastel colours and nothing with heavy patterns or anything that will cause scary shadows on the ceiling.

 

The window dressings are your own preference. If you like the moon light making its way through your window, or a near by street lamp, that is good, thin blinds then are a possibility, but if you like to be in total darkness, and don’t want to be woken by the daylight, then blackout blinds or curtains are what you may need.

 

You don’t want to be cold or too hot, so experiment with the kind of heating or air you need in your room. Personally I can’t sleep without a window open. But the window away from my bed. So in our en-suite is perfect.

 

Keeping a systematic bedtime is recommended. I touched on this in my last blog on the subject of sleep. Well that is good if you can but some people are unable to do this, if you keep your schedule within an hour, this should be fine. This includes waking up at about the same time too!  

 

Chamomile tea, it has anti-anxiety effects and research suggests that it releases something called glycine, which is a natural sedative.

 

So, may your pillow be a fluffy cloud and the angels sing sweet lullabies. Know that the stars have come to wish you sweet dreams and the moonlight is there to guide you to that path of dreams.

SATURDAYS DIARY (THE ANTS AND THE SHERPA) BY FIONA CUMMINGS

My Saturday Diary. It was going to be a busy day around the house and garden. Tomorrow is the big adventurous day. But as for today?  I would wake up and have a burst of energy. Something that doesn’t fill my bones too often. I look at people twenty, thirty years older than myself in total envy. How do they do what they do? Where do they get their energy from? Others much older than me seam to do so much and still have time to go out and never sound tired?

 

The lovely lady I was with last week never stops. Her house is so immaculate and homely and she does so much for charity as well as takes care of her family who need her and she has time to meet with me and have a great afternoon leaving me with joy in my heart and admiration how she simply just does it. You know, just gets up each day and turns on the sunshine and chases rainbows to find clouds but stays dry. She just gets on with life sometimes I’m sure struggles but you would never know it unless you knew the hidden person.

 

Everyone has rain in their lives, whether or not they tell you or show it is up to them and you to acknowledge the fact that all in their garden isn’t quite rosy!

But some people have so much life in their world. Spark, something, I’m so lacking get up and go right now and we are heading into winter now so a long dark spell a head. How to lift ourselves up and boost our batteries? Haha, I wish I had the answer, my brain mind whatever you want to say, has that will but my body got lost about five years ago and I’m still trying to find it. If anyone knows where it is, please at least give me a clue? Last time I saw it, I was on an operating table in the theatre receiving my last horrific operation which turned out so much bigger than what the specialists hoped for. Since that day, things have not been the same. And my body can only get worse, right? I mean, it’s hardly going to get better unless my mind changes enough to really do something about it.

 

So Hub and I sorted the guest room out, pulling furniture out cleaning and putting things back. Throwing out some things that had been laying around for too long and washing skirting boards, getting rid of yesterday’s dirt and earlier dust. I washed our bedroom window and windowsill and dusted our room from top to bottom, then time to put the garden to bed for winter. No, not the soil and weeds, but the garden furniture. So Hub packed up four chairs piling them on top of each other then I carried them from our back patio to the front garage, walking along the side of the house, passing by the weeds and brambles coming in through the gap in the fence next door. Squeezing through the narrow gate passing by stuff, just stuff on the side of our house. Avoiding the nasty garden bin that Hub filled last weekend bless him. The sharp thorns and roses he cut down, his hands still tell stories about that weekend. Sadly, I think we missed the last bin collection for the year, so now we have that awful bin for at least six months. Trying to go down the middle of the garage, avoiding on my right Hubs exercise bike and rowing machine, on my left our treadmill and the utility machines, not wanting to scratch anything with the legs of the chairs. Now this job seams easy but when you can’t see, you normally like to know what is in front of you and have your hands free to go along the side of for example a building. My hands sort of speak were tied.

 

Hub had already brought his sun lounger wheeling it from back to front. That now stands six feet upright at the back of the garage. Hubs footsteps were heard coming along the side of the house, shadowing mine. I asked him what was he doing? He said there was a fifth chair. I said, no, I wouldn’t buy five? He said well, you have, unless I only stacked three? I counted them and no, there were four, so I did buy five. Why? Then I remembered that there were only five in the shop so I decided to just get them all. They were not expensive and I got a discount money off with Teen working there at the time.

 

Then time to bring the table around. Oh my… You have to carry it miles above your head, well, OK not miles, but enough to get the giant round glass top over the top of the seven foot fence to the side of the house. I let Hub do that. He resembled a long stalked mushroom. Hahaha. Well in my mind’s eye.

 

I swept the garage out before putting the furniture in and swept all of our drive, discovering things along the way, like how steep our front lawn is. I’m sure there is an ants nest and the grass is getting higher and higher. If it gets any taller, alpinists will start to come to my garden, as long as they don’t expect me to be their Sherpa

 

A cosy evening with Hub and a hot chocolate watching many episodes of Victoria. A fantastic drama that we recorded to watch in bulk and bulk we did. Oh it was great; I love things like that. History about our interesting country. Because we are fortunate to have audio description I knew of the colours and style of Victoria’s clothing also what her Husband Albert looked like too. Gosh it was brilliant. They sadly had to bring hunting into it, but thankfully that evil part of the show was about thirty seconds and over with. Though of course in real life the aristocrats murder for fun.

 

Oh the food featured on the drama was delicious. Again, didn’t reflect the amount of meat they would have eaten, more so the decadence of the desserts, focusing around the

chocolate and berries. There were no moments of passion as far as vulgarity is concerned. It was so romantic, innocent and left you floating like a butterfly, rather than cringing and wanting to turn the TV off.

 

Just as I thought my knee was getting better, sadly tonight is killing me again. Gosh the whole bottom of my leg is so sore like it’s twisted. I guess because of the simple jobs I did today.

 

Well, until later with love and thoughts your way I shall go for now.

DIARY OF THE WEEKEND AND BEYOND BY FIONA CUMMINGS

A frustrating day so far, but Hub home soon for the weekend so what more should I wish for? Now where is my list? Haha, well one wish apart from no man ever kills another animal, would be to see. That is why my frustration today. Such simple things today I have been faced with huge challenges. But jog on. And this couldn’t have come at a better time, I read this today and I thought it was really funny.

“Life’s expectancy would grow leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon.”

I agree, and taste as good, but vegetarian bacon of course…

 

Teen home in a couple of hours from work. He got up from his bed at two this morning to quotes, make himself something to eat. At three I still heard him walking around and he was to be up for work at half five. So he gets in and he is getting changed going straight to the gym for two hours. and yesterday he told me he pushed 48 stone on his legs. My goodness, he will get a hernia. He can’t understand why I’m not excited and proud of him. I am proud that he goes to the gym. Not proud he does weight lifting. He just doesn’t get it. Then he will come home, eat shower and get changed to meet up with Shamrock as she is treating him today or tonight, it will be nine by the time she finishes work. Then they are going out I guess for another meal. For his lunch he has just eaten a full pack of pasta… I don’t understand how he is so very slim. I’m glad he is though, when I say slim, his legs are solid but huge but the rest of him is really sporty slim.

 

Dogs are going for a free run tomorrow and at some point this weekend Hub and I are hoping to go out somewhere. The place we hope to go to we have never been before just the two of us. I’m terrified but will act on the day. Just glad I have written my will. Haha.

 

Hub and I wrote our will some weeks ago it’s so important as I have learned from friends who have lost their parents how difficult it is if there has not been a will left even if like teen they are the only children. Its best to get it done now whilst we are youngish, rather than when we are old. But let’s get positive, we will be fine…. Honest…. If we had our classic combination of me with my white cane and our old gal Hubs Suki/Long Chops, I would be fine, LF is so safe but runs everywhere so it’s so hard for me to keep up. I’m so slow with my cane. Will I take Wagga? I would love to, and I  may still, but we have to go across really busy roads and she freaks out at the sound and sight of cars. As I have said before she is a country bumpkin.

 

I’m going to have a big tidy up and get things put away this weekend that has been waiting too long to do. Empty boxes and fill more than a trip to the loft for Hub as well as sorting out the garage. I hate that job. In my house I know where things are but in the garage it’s impossible. Things just get put in there dumped and it’s not a nice place to feel about. Scratchy walls and nasty dust. I just can’t deal with it. Nothing makes sense in there. And Hub can’t cope if I move a coffee table so goodness help us? But it has to be done, also I’m thinking about doing some drilling… So we may get an extension. Well, rooms may open up shall I say… I need to put our small freezer in a cupboard. Hub will kill me and I don’t know how to use the drill hahahah so with that combination, it will be an interesting weekend. Then on Monday, Teen is off with Shamrock overnight to what I call the pits of the UK why? Why is he going or why do I call it the pits? Well, It is Shamrocks kind of break and Teen says he will enjoy it… Though I’m not convinced. But he will like being with his love. Oh my God, he mentioned the M word today… NoNoNononononono too early Son.

 

And why do I call it the pits? Well, sadly it’s just so reminiscing of times gone by and very odd memories as well as it’s not what I would call classy, but this place has to be visited I guess, especially at this time of year.

They will laugh I’m sure when they go, and that is the main thing. Then he is back to long hours at work. He’s doing about 45 hours per week now. And Shamrock is doing more. She is only seventeen so a lot of hours for a young girl.

 

Well there is chicken out to cook for dinner I think I will have a cheat night and do savoury rice. Yesterdays meal was different. I cooked the boys fish with vegetables and mash potato with onion red pepper and I grated cheese into it then put it in the oven cracking a couple of eggs on the top, well in little golf holes.

 

Whatever you are up to this weekend, whether it be fun, work, or just chilling, make sure you end the day feeling better than you hoped for. I will come back later with another subject but first I have to study or research the subject and before that, I have my name right across a duster. It’s my calling. X

DIARY OF THE CHEAPEST PLACES TO LIVE BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Hungary, Spain, Norway, Jersey, UK, Canada, Germany, US, Brazil and South Africa are with us today. Again, to name the top ten viewing countries. And seconds after I checked who is with us today, I refreshed the page and Australia popped up along with Ireland, Brazil, Pakistan  and Turkey.

I love it, I love the fact you keep coming back too.

 

I didn’t get to bed until the early hours of the morning today. About twenty past three. This morning. I had a speech to write for someone and it had to be done to post to get to the person by Tuesday. Also a Blogget emailed me and asked me to write about where I thought were the most affordable places to live in the world? Well, I know some of the places I would love to live, and where if I were rich would love to have a holiday home. Holiday homes would be Tennessee US and the south of France. As for where I would love to live? Norway for sure and Italy. But this isn’t about me, this is to find out where the most popular places are to live for cost of utility bills, transport rent food and so on.

 

Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, situated in the southeast of the country, the city is known for its many churches, and has the largest baroque old town in Europe.  It does sound beautiful, with its cobbled alleys, and hill top views, all keeping a village feel to it.

 

Budapest, Hungary, is said to be a beautiful city with it’s abundance of hot thermal springs, bath houses and sophisticated cuisine. With castles palaces and of course a trip down the river Danube, this city is said to be very affordable to live.

 

Riga, capital of Latvia is also very affordable, scenic and diverse though it has a quiet and reserved feel to it, it’s said that it has a vibrant cosmopolitan city filled with hip bars, art and food fusions! It’s also said to be one of the safest places to live.

 

Prague is so beautiful if I could see it’s one place I would love to visit. But it is said that it is a cost friendly place to live. This surprised me I thought it was expensive, it just sounds so beautiful as you can walk everywhere as it’s all close together, with again cobbled streets, old fashioned bars and ancient Chapple’s, gardens and cute café’s.

 

Shri Lanka,  It’s so inexpensive especially to holiday.  Some tourist places of interest cost quite a lot,  where as it’s free to those who do live there. Great idea. Thailand, the north side is said to be very cheap. It’s the transport there I can’t believe how low in cost it is.

 

Peru, somewhere my Husband would love to go for a holiday, not to live, but it is very inexpensive to live there they say. And finally, Cape town in South Africa. Wow, what a magnificent place to live, though like a lot of the so called cheapest places to live in the world and I have only featured some of them as I can’t believe doing research, just where we are advised to live? I mean some of the places are war zones, hahaha, seriously, war zones are recommended to live because it’s little money. Em, I would rather pay a bit more and be safe, well as safe as we can be in this beautiful world we live in, sadly spoiled by humans.

 

This brings me to the question, just how many of us in reality have a choice where to live?

Later with love.

DIARY OF THE NIGHT BY FIONA CUMMINGS

So tonight what is in our news in the UK? London zoo. An 18-year-old gorilla smashed through the glass and ran around for 25 minutes. Thankfully he was caught and is safe. We didn’t shoot him. Thank God. Thing is, he is eighteen, so when we are that age in the UK, we get a key to the door. Gosh, gone are the days when we gave kids a key at eighteen? More like eleven now. Anyway, the gorilla just wanted his key. Smile,

 

I also read about a man who went into an electric shop and looked at the televisions. He went to push a button on the TV when it fell backwards. As the TV fell, it banged into another one knocking that over too. The customer stepped backwards in disbelief backing into another TV making that fall causing that one to smash into another. £5000 later, I guess he left the shop?

 

Rapper Coolio didn’t turn up to court after trying to get a gun on a flight. Really, they should jail him. To even try to do that? If that was just a quotes normal person, they would be in prison now surely? Why would you want a gun on your flight? I love or loved his music, but after reading this, I don’t like the man now.

 

So spiders don’t have ears, but they know when you are on your way towards them. Their tiny hairs can detect movement sound up to a few meters away. Tonight I was watching a dog who is being trained to smell cancer. They say that dogs can detect cancer in a person long before the medics can. They showed the dog doing his training, it was amazing.

 

So that roughly is some of our news, not going into the politics or nasty violent news. We don’t need it. I think everyone needs to chill and escape the headlines for a while. Why don’t we all try it for a few days? Until Monday? I am sure that people would be much happier if they didn’t watch the news. I mean, when we go on holiday, we don’t watch TV do we? And it’s so much better, we are oblivious to the worlds crazy crashes.

 

I ordered some new books on my kindle today. I really want to get into reading again or in my case listening to the book, as my kindle speaks as probably yours does too, if it’s a couple of years old or more actually, gosh, thinking about it, I think my kindle is about five years old. I never listen to it though. But now the winter is coming, the fires are burning, the crisp nights are hear, I fancy a hot chocolate and kindle night every few days, question is, will I be able to listen to someone else talking to me, and me having to listen to every word she says? My mind is so active, even when I was studying I never could concentrate. I was always thinking about my next move whether it be what is for dinner, or what will I wear tomorrow, or more in depth words whizzing through my world of Fifi land.

 

Still came out with A’s though. Hahaha. Same as Teen he hated lessons, but got great results. Could have done much better if only he could focus, but he has my brain, it was funny during dinner tonight, Teen said something, and as he said this thing, both him and I thought about the same thing at the same time exactly. Now some would say this is normal as he has my genes but this subject was something that no one I know no one would have ever thought about at the same time like we did.  We do this a lot Teen and myself. He even notices it. We just seem to click.

 

Gosh, he had to write an email to someone before for another person. You should have heard the English he used? I know when he applies for jobs he shocks me just how smart he is, but this email was as if Hub had written it. Teen has had a good role model in Hub that is for sure. Though his Dad has not helped him much with his homework over the years, I can count on two hands how many times he has helped him. Teen is very independent and whenever Hub offered to help him, he always said he was OK. Though it was Hub who teen came to if he had any work he needed help with.

 

He is up again tomorrow at half five. It’s eleven in the evening and he isn’t home again. He is for sure burning his candle at both ends.

 

Not sure about hubs day he was really tired when he got in so I didn’t ask him, but I know that LF was full of himself and today he met with his trainer. LF’s trainer. Apparently he went mad when he saw her. He was a year when he was trained and was with her for four months. So a year and a half ago but still remembered her and out came the paw and his little ways kicked in to show off to her.

 

A strange day, a very odd phone call and some kind words from true friends who are my family. I love them. And some great news Hub and I are off in a couple of weeks to see our besties. My friend Julie also is a Grandma again. Her new baby has a very lovely name but, thing is, they are shortening it and the ending of the name is the same as the surname. So it sounds really well, different, if not comical, and it’s a shame because the name if left alone is lovely. I hope she will be visiting us soon too. She lives about two hours on the train from us.

 

Hub is playing the piano at church soon as well.

 

I don’t know what is wrong with me tonight, I’m starving. I wonder if it’s because it’s so cold? I just want four slices of white toast. With lovely butter on… Firstly I don’t have white bread and secondly I don’t buy butter. I buy in my opinion the best spread called clover. It’s delicious.

 

Gosh you know in the UK we have fireworks on the 5^th of November? Well Teen was looking at the price of a display and it’s for the two of them too. He asked me to guess how much? I thought of the last one I went to some years ago. It was £7 each. So I added on some money and said twenty for both. He replied. No Mum, it’s £30

What? That is a rip off. It’s so dangerous to have them at home, though loads do, causing extra work for not only fireman, ambulances and councils, but hospitals and so on. So why not make it so that the places are less money so people can afford to go, rather than buying some dodgy displays from China for their front garden?

 

As for Halloween, Teen and Shamrock are going to a fright night. Oh my word. I will tell you about that later on. You will be terrified when you hear what goes on. But even for that, it’s £40 for the two of them. No food by the way. Whatever happened to ducky apple and a witches hat with a bit of glue and some sticky paper? Haha.

 

Other countries who joined us today apart from the ten I mentioned before are, Pakistan, Norway, Jersey, Hungary, Portugal, Island and France.  

 

Until tomorrow with love. If it’s night time wherever you are, some words before I go.

“I have loved the stars too fondly, to be fearful of the night””

Sarah Williams

“The darker the night, the brighter the stars. The deeper the grief, the closer is God.””

Dostoyevsky

“The night is the hardest time to be alive, and 4 am knows all my secrets

Poppy Z Bright

“We have the night so the day can be allowed to rest.””

Fiona Cummings (SMILE) Nighty night. X

DIARY OF THE WORDS BY FIONA CUMMINGS

Good afternoon dear Bloggets. Hub off to Manchester today with the Little Fella. An adventure on a train. I had to go out today, but it’s pouring here so going to wait till it stops. Today we have views from UK and the US, the gap between the UK and US was closing in for months, but now I feel the US have other things on their minds. My faithful Bloggets from Canada are here, also Czech Republic, Poland, Australia today we have had 27 views and from Germany, 19. Normally Australia and Germany I see about eight or nine of you per day on average. So, who else have come into the Blogget bungalow today? Israel, Mexico and South Africa. As I always say, these are just the top ten views I wish I could see more of you? Please write and tell me where you are from?

 

It’s cold and wet today. Teen is still in bed and its lunch time, I guess he is catching up with his sleep. He has been up four mornings at half five to start work. So today is his day off. Next one is Saturday and for a change, Shamrock has the same day off so they will be doing something I’m sure. I hope that Teen will get me my picture frame though first? He said he would. No way Hub and I can do that, even if we were to carry the huge painting and go by taxi, you can’t drive to where the door of the shop is, it’s down a very narrow lane down a cobbled street nestled among Victorian shops. Well that is what they were at one time perhaps, or houses, whatever, they are really old buildings. Into the sawdust shop of the framing man and show him what is needed then a week or more later, he will have it ready, all packaged in a huge bag, wrapped really perfectly. He is a spooky kind of guy and his shop my Husband says by my description, is typical of his trade. Even the counter seems to be made from the backing of a wardrobe. Haha. There are parts of frames all over the place. It’s really messy, but his frames are really beautiful when they are finished.

 

Teen told me about the painting I received from my friend last night. Wow, it sounds amazing. He said it was very mystical.

 

I love old stuff. Especially wood. My latest coffee tables I sent for were so inexpensive, I was shocked at the weight and quality. My friend Geordie loves them and so does Teen. I have written before they are like heavy old books piled on top of each other. The detail is great and the books made from wood, are hand carved and not all in a neat pile either, so they add character to a room. Well, in my imagination that is. If I could see, I may think differently.

 

This brings me to what I want to chat briefly about today. I have a friend called Terry, she is amazing, on line if I ever need to know what anything is like, as in a picture on Facebook for example, she will tell me and her amazing ability to describe things is a gift. She also has my eye disease but she still thankfully has enough sight to do this for me. I call her my angel eyes because that is what she has. As so many of my friends who are partially sighted just don’t give blind people a second thought when it comes to describing what they have posted, again, on social networking groups. Friends who are sighted, of course, they would never think about doing this, there are the odd few who are so kind to put four or five words at least to just include me and others who may not see the picture, or words in a text, as my software doesn’t read a picture of writing, only the writing that is written in word. But it’s the people who are partially sighted that I just don’t get.

 

The mind of a Psychologist in me may say it is because they want to bury their head in the sand. Well, perhaps, but I just think it’s down to people not giving others who are less fortunate to them a second thought.

  

It was funny because wen we used to go to the big reunions, my friends who are blind used to say that there was the big divide. So the partially sighted would sit at one end of the room where as the others in other words us, who couldn’t see, would be at the other. At first I used to smile and think they were being paranoid. Well, after a few times and them insisting, I took note, and they were correct. In busy pubs for example, it would be difficult for us to mingle as blind people because there would be tables and chairs people carrying drinks and total strangers of course would be in the pub or restaurants. Knowing my luck, I would go to be sociable and end up sitting with someone else at their table. Well, it wouldn’t be the first.

 

Many years ago, I was to meet with a boyfriend. I came out of the building I was in, he would be in the car park. I stopped as I could see then, not fully though, enough to see to walk around without the aid of a white cane for sure.

 

His car was right to the left and I ran to it. Those were the days when I could run? Haha. I opened the passenger door, as I put on my seatbelt, I wondered why he didn’t talk to me? I looked to him.

It wasn’t him.

Oh.

Oopsy?

 

And I have told you before about when my ex and I took my youngest Niece to our local swimming pool. I asked her had she seen her Uncle, as we had not seen him for ages? She pointed and swam off to him. So I went in that direction.

 

There he was, I pretended I was a shark as you do. Making my hand come from the water as if to launch an attack my predator.

 

I put my hand on his chest and as I raked my fingers down his chest, ever so slightly… I repeated the words.

“Kill.

Kill.

Pushing him under the water slowly. My ex laughed in a kind of manic manner. As he went further and further under the water, I suddenly wondered how my ex’s normal pigeon chest, was more let’s say,

 padded?

Oh.

Another Oopsy.

It wasn’t my ex.

 

I suspect that poor man is still undergoing therapy as I write?

 

So, what is it, with my partially sighted friends, is it too painful to think that one day they may be blind and if they burry their head in the sand, it won’t come to them? Or can they just not be bothered? I have also noticed not with my friends from abroad, but my UK partially sighted friends, just how obsessed they are of taking pictures/photographs?

Putting them on social media.

And of course not saying what they are of. Some say to me that they are rubbish at describing, well, if you take a picture of a child, your child next to a tree. You could say, Kara next to tree in garden. It’s better than what my software will read out when I get to the picture. It reads

 

 

 

Nothing. Then goes onto the next words that are written. Shopping is a night mare now because the designers of the websites think everyone can look at the picture so no words are needed. And a lot of shops take a picture of text, again, our software only reads words as in WORD.

 

So, awareness. You could make a huge difference as we as blind people sometimes can feel left out of life, and little things like that help. My angel eyes if she were to describe the picture of my friend’s child near the tree would give so much detail, and for that I love her and more reasons, but her detail is great. I have lots of friends who keep saying, oh sorry Fiona, I keep forgetting you can’t see. Haha. Well I wish I could forget? If a miracle ever occurs and I get my sight back, I think I will probably get told off from my friends who can’t see by telling them everything, but just a little few words would be good, and as I said it’s mainly among my friends who are partially sighted, so they should know better?

 

 It’s too long ago, but may be eighteen years ago, before I went blind, I would have been the same? I knew no better. But I would hope that if someone told me, or asked me to say what something was, I would remember?

 

A memory has just come to me. Something I have written about before. As a young adult, I avoided people with any kind of eye condition, because when I was very very young, being around those who couldn’t see depressed me. But now I’m an adult, I know it wasn’t because of their sight, but other issues, as when I am with my friends who are blind, we have the best time.

 

The thing I am thinking about was simply awful. It was once no, twice a year a day out for those who are blind or partially sighted. The latter was me then. At Christmas there would be a Christmas lunch put on. We as in my Mum and myself would be picked up by a man driving a huge bus and we would get on the bus and I would smell death. That is what it was like for me. Really elderly people and not the kind of old people I adore, full of wisdom and brilliant stories, but those who are not sure where they are bless them. At the time I was a child. It was just too depressing. I used to think am I the only child in my area who can’t see well? There was a boy there about five years older than me. He as we got older fancied me. Well, let’s face it, there wasn’t much competition? Mind you, enough competition for me to try to avoid him like the plague. Let’s say, not my type… And too old for goodness sake. Hahaha.

 

We would get to the place where we had a meal, and it was oddly the same place I went to a wedding not long ago. How it’s changed…

 

We would be given a dinner, it was always awful and all of the poor old folks would say how delicious it was. I used to hurt for them thinking, bless them, I wonder when their last meal was? Because to enjoy that rubbish?

 

Then the fun, would begin. Bingo. Blooming bingo? Come on, but it only got better Bloggets. Because then I was probably the most sighted person in the room apart from my Mum and some other staff volunteers. So what entertainment do you put on for those who can’t see?

Come on, old Bloggets will remember this story, those who have not heard this story before, what entertainment do you put on for blind people?

A singer?

A comedian? No, they had dancers.

Well, they may as well have had jugglers. There was an elderly gent who would play the accordion… All foot tapping…

 

Those times were hideous and in the summer we would go in the big bus and head towards the seaside. Fish & Chips. Great, at least the food was good, but again, bingo. And don’t get me wrong, I love bingo as in what kids play, but this was proper nana bingo.

 

As for the prizes? Hahhaha. Don’t even go there!!!

 

My life at the time way back was very sad and I needed picking up not left to feel sadness and sorry for which elderly person had died on that outing from last one. I should have been doing what children do, but I don’t think much in my childhood was spent doing what children do. Certainly not boarding school. That was pure hell. Thank goodness now days partially sighted and blind children go to schools for all. So their education may not benefit, but their life will. I have so many scars from the days in our Victorian school and the slightly more modern school afterwards where I went as a teen.

 

Talking about social networking, a name popped up from my old school this week. The son of a hateful cruel couple who made my life full of nightmares when I was away from home. I have never met this lad, but have heard about him. I felt as sick as I did on the Sunday night when I had to travel to school many years ago. The words and actions from this couple were criminal and I don’t know how on earth they have not been locked up for what they did? I wondered how their two kids turned out? If they too had a mean streak?

 

I guess I should think. Embrace every circumstance, own every fault, share every joy, contemplate every mystery, walk in everyone’s shoes, heal everyone’s heart, adore all Gods, preserve everyone’s dignity and speak humbly of yourself speak candidly so that you cannot be misunderstood       and let every syllable treat those who need help.

 

 Well part of those words Neale Donald Walch may have said, and they are all very honourable, and most of them I can stand by, but in the case of this family, well, in fairness the parents of the kids, I have no forgiveness and only despair, but I seek no revenge towards them as I know their tie will come.

 

OK, on that not so cheerful note, I shall leave you for now, but I will be back with a blog I have been asked to write by one of my Bloggets. Subject? Something I know nothing about… So some research to do. Until later I shall leave you with these words.

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

MY DIAMOND FROM AFRICA BY FIONA CUMMINGS

MY DIAMOND FROM AFRICA

BY FIONA CUMMINGS

From another part of the world

I read such beautiful words to be told

Things I never knew

All about you

Your stunning part of the land

That has threats from man

But still you paint the sun

And write about the fun

As well as telling me what I need to learn

Stories from a far

About others scars

Reality which can burn

Hurt my soul and mind

Some people have a life so unkind

You write about the monkeys

So they to some are naughty

Full of mischief

But to me are such cuties

Through your words I imagine the sunbird

And from your window

Sweet sounds can be heard

Juicy stems of yellow

As the birds drink nectar

Life can for some, be mellow

And others, time they borrow

But you my dear

Have lived an intriguing life

Even something simple

Like how you became a wife

Your words full of wisdom

You calm me if I have a problem

Even if you don’t have the ability to solve them

After you put pen to paper

Life just seams safer

So my diamond from Africa

I want to thank you

For taking time out

To write words so true

And wish the best dreams to head towards you

When life gets tough

And I’m feeling rough

I open your letter

And start to feel better

So we share the same sun

Together our star’s shine

And our rain dances

On your Morning Glory

And my roses

We are separated by time

But at one in our heart

Our souls will never part

Skies for miles

Life’s trials

Years between us

In age

But we are not on the stage

This is real

You know how I feel

To your words I’m grateful

Your writing is beautiful

I wish we lived closer to each other

But because you are there

Through your words I can discover

And your kindness you share

To feel near to you

I look to the moon

I see it too

P.S, write soon

 

© Fiona Cummings

To Louise with love